LEXINGTON, Ky. — Notre Dame dropped a tough 1-0 decision to No. 16 Kentucky in its road opener on Friday night at Bell Soccer Center.
The Irish struggled to create good scoring chances over the 90 minutes. Notre Dame goalkeeper Bryan Dowd recorded four saves on the night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish and Wildcats battled to a 0-0 score after the opening 45 minutes of play at Bell Soccer Complex on Friday evening.
Kentucky had the best chance of the first half, launching a counter off a Notre Dame corner. The Wildcats had a one-on-one with Bryan Dowd, the Irish keeper, but Dowd made an excellent kick save to deny the hosts and keep the game scoreless.
Neither side had great looks at goal over the opening 20 minutes of the second half. The Wildcats found the breakthrough goal in the 70th minute off a long throw. The ball fell just in front of the goal and Kentucky managed to knock it over the line off a scramble to go on top 1-0.
The Irish put plenty of pressure on the Wildcats over the final 20 minutes of play but were unable to find the equalizer.
McFARLAND FAMILY MEN’S HEAD SOCCER COACH CHAD RILEY’S TAKE
On the performance…
“A disappointing game tonight for us. Credit to Kentucky as they came out with more intensity than us to start the game. We got going in the second half a little bit but then they found the goal. We responded very well after the goal, but we need to compete like that from the first whistle. We will be better from this.”
UP NEXT
The Irish open up ACC play on the road, as they travel to Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, to take on Boston College at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 10. The match will air on ACCNX.
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